Santa and Mrs. Claus have brought Christmas magic to the Santa House in Pontiac for nearly 400 children in Livingston County. Their jobs are often fun, sometimes touching … and sometimes … surprising.

It all starts when "Santa Claus Comes to Town," and continues year after year, generation after generation. From small children to adults, everyone wants to meet the jolly old elf — Santa Claus, and the woman behind the man — Mrs. Claus.

Mr. and Mrs. Claus have a tight schedule, but were gracious enough to grant an interview to explain what it is like being Father and Mother Christmas.

For Santa, the best thing about his job is "Seeing how many little children have grown up through the years and now bring their children to the Santa House. Plus, I can eat as much as I want during the holidays and not feel guilty." Oh, "Ho, Ho, Ho, Santa!"

Mrs. Claus is delighted by "seeing the kids' faces light up as they enter the house."

Although Santa views his job as the froth on top of his milk and cookies, it's a tough gig. Santa and Mrs. Claus agree that "the travel back and forth between the North Pole and Pontiac creates terrible sleigh-lag.

"One Monday, we had a terrible head wind and we were about a half hour late."

Let's face it; it is not "easy being red."

Mrs. Claus' job is to welcome families as they enter Santa's house and make sure every child receives a present and to help with photographs.

"Families usually ask me to take a picture on their phone or with a camera," she said.

"Children get their choice of a bookmark they can color, a stencil they can use to draw pictures or a pencil gripper. They all receive a candy cane, chocolate sixlets and a silly band — even the adults get a candy cane," she said.

She added, "I also promote our food drive for the Livingston County Food Pantry and the monetary collections for the Salvation Army kettle located in Santa's house."

Santa's job is — well — being Santa. Children line up in the cold, sometimes in the dark, and sometimes with the whole family to meet Santa."

All kinds of kids come to sit on his knee and whisper their secret wishes into his ear. With all kinds of kids, Santa has to come up with all kinds of strategies to make sure each visit is merry.

Take for instance, your non-believers — now there is a tough crowd. "I tell them that Santas everywhere represent the true spirit of Christmas and those who believe receive the true spirit. Once, I had a little boy, who peaked into the Santa house, announce, 'You are not the same Santa at the Elks Club and refused to come any further.'"

Page 2 of 3 - Win some, lose some.

Then there are those children who do not find Santa their cup of cocoa.

"When I see a child scared of Santa, I try to give them a 'high five.' This seems to be the universal sign of — it's okay. I speak to them softly and give them time to acclimate themselves to the house. If the child is still scared of Santa, we ask the parent to hold the child and either sit or stand next to me, rather than sit on my lap."

Mrs. Claus added, "When I let the family in and I see a small one who we know from past experience might cry, I tell the parents to have their camera ready, because they might have only a couple of seconds to get the picture. We never force a child."

"We try to give each child and family as much attention as possible. This helps if the child is scared at first," she said.

Then, there are the screamers — those children who see red and the mere sight of Santa sets them off screaming.

"We tell the parents, 'it is just an age thing.' Usually children 1-2 are the most afraid. We ask them to come back at a different time and the results might be different," Santa said.

Then, there is the opposite problem — those children who want to settle in for a long winter's nap with Santa — and never leave the comfy Santa house. "We had a child last week that was so scared and shy at first she wouldn't talk or get near me. After she warmed up to the surrounding, she wouldn't stop talking. After we feel they have had their share of time, we just tell them that other families are waiting to see Santa and they can come back again to see them."

Sometimes, Santa and Mrs. Claus have "ha, ha, ha" moments.

Mrs. Claus said, "This year I was helping a multi-generational family get in place for a photo. The youngest member of the family was only 10-weeks-old. Just as I was getting ready to take the picture, she decided she had some other business she had to attend to. Everyone laughed. I am sure they will never forget that moment."

"We also get letters to Santa. I received a letter in my mailbox from a little girl that included a request for gifts for her grandma and mom. Her grandmother wanted, "a robe, Rodney Strong wine, and a rice cooker. Mom had a mini-cooper on her list," Santa laughed.

Sometimes, Santa and Mrs. Claus have "aha" moments from children young and old.

"Last year we had an 18-year-old young woman who waited patiently in line. When it was her turn to come in, I asked her what she wanted. She bashfully answered, 'I have never sat on Santa's lap." I used her phone to take her picture. When Santa asked what she wanted for Christmas, her reply was, 'Peace on Earth,'" said Mrs. Claus.

Page 3 of 3 - Santa added, "This year a number of youth from Salem Children's Home visited. It was gratifying to see how excited these young teenagers were and how their counselors went out of their way to give these young men an opportunity to see Santa — something most have never done."

"I just love when children rush up to me with open arms, give me a hug, and say, 'I love you Santa,'" he added.

Sometimes, Mr. and Mrs. Claus get asked the tough questions that require creative answers. Mrs. Claus said a frequent question is, "'Where are the reindeer???' I tell them they are grazing right outside of town, because the Mayor (Bob Russell) will not let us bring them into town (Sorry, Bob, I'll make sure you get an extra something in your stocking)."

"Yesterday, a child asked me how I can deliver presents to all the children in the world on the same night. I told her — that is the magic of Christmas and different time zones," said Santa.

He added, "It is interesting what children ask for. Some want $300 earphones or an iPad or iPod at age 6 or 7. We tell them they need to look forward to those items as they get older. I ask them what their first or second choices are and tell them they might not get everything on their list, but what they do receive, they will really like."

Santa said that many parents remark that they came to visit Santa in the very same house. "It is definitely a part of the history of Pontiac," said Santa.

Santa and Mrs. Claus love coming to Pontiac, where everyone is so friendly and nice. "We are grateful to Lori Fairfield, executive director of P.R.O.U.D. for providing us with a warm and inviting house, where the children can come and visit."

"We would also like to thank the State Bank of Graymont for sponsoring the house and providing candy for the families."

"Finally, we would like to thank several junior high students from St. Mary's who helped us with counting the children as they come in and manning the entrance and exit doors. This really helped several times when I wasn't feeling well and couldn't make the trip," said Mrs. Claus. A special thanks also goes out to Gene and Pam Burnett and all the volunteer work they do with Santa's house.

Santa and Mrs. Claus had to go to work and you could hear them say as they drove out of sight, "Merry Christmas to all — and to all, a good night."